EXPLORATIONS IN PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE

Coordinators: Larry Shapiro, Steve Allen, Bob Belfort

For each session, we will read an essay, classic short story, or excerpt from a play.

Some of our sessions focus on how philosophy addresses current controversial issues. Some of our sessions focus on writing by classic or contemporary authors addressing questions of perennial concern. All of our sessions feature lively discussions of readings selected for stimulating ideas and insights into social relations and human nature.

B WEEK / THURSDAY / 1:00 – 2:30 PM / IN-PERSON / ROOM 27

Explorations in Philosophy and Literature
Date	Presenter	Title
Sep 17	Larry Shapiro	Mentors and Mourning, in memory of Jonathan Lear – Essays by Lear and Agnes Callard
Oct 01	Steve Allen	Regulating markets in “repugnant goods” such as the market for birth surrogates.
Oct 15	Larry Shapiro	The hand and human nature, readings from Prehension by Colin McGinn. Note: This is a joint meeting of two courses, Explorations in Philosophy and Human Biology
Oct 29	Steve Allen	How should research scientists balance the competing goals of 1. the scientific standard of admitting uncertainty and staying open to unorthodox ideas, and 2. trying to convince the public to follow best available health advice and ignore the distraction of competing claims.
Nov 12	Paul Golomb	The Ordeal of Civility
Dec 03	Donna Ramer	Martha Nussbaum and The Fragility of Goodness
Dec 17	Larry Shapiro	The Wind in The Willows, chapter IX, Wayfarers All

Other Classes: